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Page 4 of 5
The UK and Star Wars
***MENWITH HILL***
Location: 8 miles West of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Officially run by: RAF Practically run by: National Security Agency (NSA)
Personnel: approx. 1800 staff, 1400 of which are US
Missile Defence link: Ground relay station for the Space Based infrared satellite system
NSA (RAF) Menwith Hill, near Harrogate.
***FYLINGDALES***
Location: Off A159 between Pickering and Whitby, in North York Moors National Park.
Officially run by: RAF but data is shared with USA
Personnel: 300
Missile Defence link: Ballistic missile early warning radar. Permission for use in the system already granted by UK.
***FELTWELL***
Location: Thetford, Norfolk,
Officially run by: RAF Practically run by: US 5th Space Surveillance
Squadron - which operates under the US Space Command's 21st Space Wing.
Missile Defence link: Unconfirmed but strongly suspected of being
another key missile defence base. It is a Deep Space Tracking System
& Low Altitude Space Surveillance System.
UK involvement goes further than the use of military bases in the UK.
There is a real possibility that missile defence interceptor missiles
could be positioned on UK soil, making the UK even more of a target and
emphasising the impression that the UK acts as an outpost for US
foreign policy. What's more UK corporations are keen to get a slice of
the cake and the government cites industrial benefits as a key reason
for supporting the programme.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Eliminating Weapons of Mass Destruction is the best defence against ballistic missiles.
Missile Defence is the most costly and high risk strategy for tackling
the threat from ballistic missiles. The most effective way to prevent
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of
delivery is by strengthening international non-proliferation and
disarmament agreements, not by developing expensive and technologically
questionable missile defence programmes.
According to UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs,
Jayantha Dhanapala: "When all is said and done - after all the
alternatives of missile defence, arms control, counter-proliferation,
deterrence (extended or minimal), and the quixotic pursuit of
"full-spectrum dominance" are tried - nothing quite delivers the
concrete security benefits that all countries would enjoy from the
total elimination of nuclear weapons. This is not simply an ideal, but
arguably the most truly realistic of all approaches to international
peace and security at the global strategic level."
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